Insect Life

MASON BEES

279

XX
codoma sicula establishes herself in the first little
spot she can find, so long as it has a solid basis and
heat. As for the nature of this basis it matters
little. I have seen nests built on bare stones and
brick, on a shutter, and even on the glass panes in a
shed. One thing only does not suit the bee—
namely, the stucco of our houses* Prudent, like her
retainer C, muraria, she would fear ruin to her cells
did she entrust them to a support which might fall
Finally, for reasons which I cannot yet satis-
factorily explain, C sicula often entirely changes her
manner of building, turning her heavy mortar dwell-
ing, which seems to require a rock to support it, into
an aerial one, hung to a bough. A bush in a
hedge,—no matter what—-hawthorn, pomegranate, or
Paliurus,—offers a support, usually about the height
of a man. Ilex and elm give a greater height.
The bee chooses in some thicket a bough about as
thick as a straw, and constructs her edifice on this
narrow base with the same mortar which would be
used under a balcony or the projecting of a
roof. When finished, the nest is a ball of earth,
traversed literally by the bough. If made by a
single insect it is the si^e of an apricot, and of a fist
if several have worked at it; but this seldom occurs*
Both species use the same materials, a
ous clay, mixed with a little sand and with
the mason's own saliva. Damp which would
facilitate labour and spare saliva to are
disdained by the Chalieodoma, which
earth for building, just as our builders old
and lime. Such materials when with humidity
would not hold properly. What is is a dry